odds etymology

Etymology:

Old English: "odde" (odd, unequal) Proto-Germanic: "uddaz" (odd) Proto-Indo-European: "ud-os" (projecting)

Meaning and Origin:

The word "odds" originally referred to something that sticks out or is unequal. It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "ud-os", which means "projecting."

Common Meanings:

  • Difference or disparity: "The odds were stacked against him."
  • Unusual or eccentric: "He has an odd sense of humor."
  • Asymmetrical or uneven: "The odds and ends of the project."
  • Chance or probability (in gambling): "The odds of winning are 1 in 10."
  • Argument or dispute: "We had a heated exchange of odds."

Note:

In English, the word "odds" is often used in the plural form, even when referring to a single difference or disparity. This is because it originally denoted a pair of unequal numbers in dice throws.

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